A Reefer's Journey

fooser · #1 07-29-2011, 04:40 AM

Way Overdue.

The main display is a 96"L x 30"W x 26"H (approximately 324.2 US gallons), 19mm starfire custom build with external overflow.

The sump was a custom design by a good friend in which I hope to upload the blueprint for to this thread when I can remember.

The stand is composed of 2 separate 4' metal 2" thick stand that have been powdercoated black.

Return pump is a Reeflo Hammerhead external pump, pumping water from the sump back to the display, as well as through my carbon reactor and BioPellets.

For the time being, here are the basic insides:
Lighting: Vertex Illumina 1800-260
Flow: 7 x Hydor Koralia 4 (goal is to upgrade to either 2 Vortec MP40 at ends of the tank with koralia in the middle, or 2 MP60 at the ends with 2 MP40 in the middle)
Skimmer: Vertex IN180 (plans to upgrade skimmer once this one is unable to keep up with the load)
Reactors: 2 x 2LF reactors (carbon & biopellets) with water movement provided by main return pump. Flow is controlled by adjustable valves.

Unfortunately at this time the overall aesthetics of the exterior is constantly at work as I keep thinking of ways to improve it. But the overall outside look was inspired by a tank in Germany that I had seen about 4 years ago. When I am on my other computer, I will add the link as well as a cheap drawing of my plans to the thread.

Uh, I know I am far from listing everything a good journal has, but I will add stuff as I think of it or find it...The drawback of not starting the journal from the onset....

The fishroom area behind the tank is approximately 11' x 5'. This area includes a laundry sink for the random tank maintenance and 2 x 30 gallon rainbarrels that will be used for waterchanges. 1 to circulate saltwater, and 1 to hold freshwater that will be drained either into the salt water container when needed or feed the auto-top off into the sump. The RO unit will provide water for the freshwater container. For water changes, the saltwater mixing container's pump will utilize a valve that can redirect water from mixing the salt to pushing water into the sump directly.

Then I misplaced some photos of the rest of the build in between and will need to look for them. So until I find them and put them here, I will just proceed with what I have.